Coin sorting machine



' June 13, 1944- J. N. FRANCIS 2,351,197

COIN SORTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 15, 1941 5 SheetS -Sheet i I III:

June 1944- J. N. FRANCIS 2,351,197

com SOR'IING MACHINE Filed Feb. 15, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 13, 1944.J. N. FRANCIS 2,351,197

COIN SORTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 15, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 June 1944- wJ. N. FRANCIS ,351,

COIN SORTING MACHINE 7 d H ,Filed'Fub; 15, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 M 7 M!g 42 W A l fay/$7 mail WW Patented June 13, 1944 UNITED "STATES PATENT[OFFICE COIN SORTING BIACHINE Joseph N. Francis, Woburn,

Mass, assignor to Sattley Company, Detroit, Mich., a, corporation ofMichigan Application February 15, 1941, Serial No. 379,007

Claims.

This invention relates to machines for sorting coins so as to segregateall those of the same denomination and then to count the coins of eachdenomination so segregated.

' One object of the present invention is to sort the coins rapidly andwith a small expenditure of 'power and wear on the coins.

For a more complete understanding of this invention reference may bemade to the accompanying drawings in which i 1 a Figure l is aperspective view of a sorting and counting machine embodying theinvention.

Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the machine.

Figure 3 is a front elevation of a portion of the machine, the frontcover being removed and the machine parts being shown to a larger scalethan in Figure 1.

Figures 4 and 5 are detail sections on section 1 lines 44 and 5-5,respectively, of Figure 2, and

Figure 4 being also a detail section on line 44 of Figure 3.

Figures 6 and 7 are detail sections on lines 6-6 and 1-1, respectively,of Figures 3 and 10.

Figures 8 and 9 are detail sections on lines 8+8 and 99, respectively,of Figure 2.

Figure 10 is a detail section on Figure 6.

Figure 10a is a fragmentary perspective view showing certain of thecoin-controlling parts.

Figure 11 is a diagram of some of the electrical actuating and controlmechanism.

The machine as shown comprises a bed frame I having a steeply inclinedwall portion 2 (say,

line I fil -ill of from the vertical) having a circular opening 3therethrough. This opening is bridged by a spider 4 having a ringportion 5 secured as by screws 6 to the wall member 2 about thecircumference of the opening 3, and extending from ure 10), upwardlyabout that side of the turnthis disk being substantially flush with theforward face of the wall 2. The turntable disk ID has secured to itsforward face a hardened wear plate H provided around it periphery with aseries of rounded notches [2 each of sufiicientsize to receive therein acoin of the largest diameter of those intended to be sorted by themachine.

The plate [I may be quite thin and in order to provide, coin-receivingdepressions of sufficient depth to securely hold a single coin of any ofthe dimensions desired to be handled, there may be provided individuallyblocks I5 which may be secured to the wear plate H and if desired, also,

to the disk ID as by means of screws 16. There are thus provided acircular series of coin-receiving depressions about the periphery of the'facingplate II which is of somewhat smaller diameter than the turntablel0. Outwardly of these depressions and spaced somewhat therefrom are aseries of side partition elements 20 which at their inner ends aresecured to the top face of the turntable ID as by screws 2|, the outerends of these partitions 20, however, extending beyond the, periphery ofthe turntable l0 and overlying the stationary wall member 2 adjacentthereto. In order to hold the outer end portions of these partitionmembers in proper spaced relation, they may have secured theretoaspacing ring 22 as "by the screws 23. These partition elements 20 aresufiiciently thick so as to provide between them passages within whichthe coins may pass in a single layer and these passages form dischargepassages for the coin-receiving depressions in the turntable. They are,however, spaced from the outer edges of these depressions sufficientlyto re- .ceive between them the lower end of a stationary blockingpartition 25 which extends between the coin-receiving depressions andthe discharge passages from a point closely adjacent to the lowestportion of the turntable as at 26 (see Figtable which is lifting duringits rotation.

.As shown the turntable is intended to be rotated in clockwise directionas viewed from the front, as indicated by the arrow a in Figures 3 and10, so that the partition member 25 extends this ring portion inwardlyare supporting arms I 3 coming together in a hub portion through whichis journaled a shaft 8. This shaft is secured to the central portion ofa turntable disk 10 positioned within the opening 3, the front face offrom the point 26 between the coin-receiving depressions of theturntable and the discharge passages up to beyond the highest portion ofthe turntable as at 21, as shown in Figure 3 and down. on the other sideto the point 210. From the point 21 to the point 26 on the down movingside of the turntable there is another partition member 21! which may beintegral with the member 25 and disposed inwardly of the coinreceivingdepressions, being spaced from the face of the turntable adjacent to itsends sufficiently to clear the partition members l5 and being inclinedinwardly and backwardly adjacent to the top face of the plate IIsufficient to prevent the passage of coins between it and the plate Hinto the coin-receiving depressions. This partition and thepartitionJZ-Tl are tationary and may be formed as a part of a covermember 28 which bridges over a portion of the forward face of themachine and is secured around its margin to the stationary portion 2 asby the screws29. To

its forward face may be secured a front hopper wall member 30 as by thescrews 3|, The hopper formed by the wall member 30 and the turntable mayreceive a supply of coins which may be fed in from time to time asdesired from a stationary loading platform 32 supported in any suitableway adjacent to the front of the machine and having a .-rim portion 33cut away as at ,34 .to

permit thecoins to be moved'therefrom .intothe hopper. A theturntablerotates, thecoins therein may be pickedup in the coin-receivingdepressionson 'thefileft'hand side of theaxis ofrostation of theturntable, being lifted from the mass, of coins and finally removedtherefrom in .fiat conditionuntil they reach thepoint 21. From the point-21 they pass under and .to the .rightof the partition .23] and followdown behind it in fiat condition and .out of contact with the coins inthe ,hopperinto the position where -.by gravity they may pass outbeyondthe point 210 into the discharge passages formed. between the partitionelements. 28, .thus leaving contact with the turntable but beingimpelled therearoundwhile in engagementwith the wall member 2 bytheparti- .tion elements 20. These partition elements '20 are arranged.sumciently far apart to receive coins offthe largest diameter whichtheflmachine is to handle, and means are provided by- Whic the exit endsof the discharge passages may be blockedioff topredeterminedextentssoas'to first permit the escape therefrom of small diameter.co'ins, should these happen to be in any of the discharge passages,these discharge openings be- .ing progressively increasedin size inaccordance with successively increased diameters of coins of thedifierent denominations, so that the coins of the several denominationsare discharged from thedischarge passages at different angularposiltions therearound.

The .means .for restricting the discharge openings of the passagescomprise baflle fingers 40 whichare-pivoted on enlarged diameterportions 4,! of the screws 2'! which hold the partition elements .20attached to the turntable l0. Each Ifinger 4B is normally pressed towardits most restricted discharge position as by means of a coil spring Mstirroundingthe pivot screw 2! beneath its head, :and a stop 43projecting from the partitionelement 23 with which may be engagedarearwardextens'ion 44 of the finger 4!], limits the extentof thisrestriction to such a point that theidischarge opening for the dischargepassage permits the passage betweenitand the next adjacentlelement.Zflof coins of the smallest diameter intended to he handled by themachine. Thus it may be sufficiently open to permit the dischargeofdimes, but is too restricted to permit .thedischargeof nickels,quarters, or any coin of a .larger diameter.

, The fingers 40 maybe moved successively to less therefrom ofsuccessively larger diameter coins.

This may be accomplished by means of arms 45 secured to the elements Alland having at their outer ends end follower rolls E6 which may engagethe outer face of an arcuate cam member 50 which may be secured as byscrews 5| to the inner face of the stationary member 28 as shown best inFigures '7 and 10a. Thus at the lower portion of the turntable theobstructing fingers M will permit the passage of dimes from thedischarge passage as far as is permitted by fixed abutment elements 55and 56.

From aninspection of Figure 10, it will be noted that the element 56 isinclined away from the edge-of the turntable and leads a coin which isof sufiiciently small size to pass beyond the end of the finger 40 to bemoved by the partition member 23 to the right thereof into engagementwith a star counter wheel 59, the pressure of the finger back of thecoin forcing the coin past and turning this counter wheel and into adischarge passage 69. This passage 69 extends through t e platemember 2and leads through a suitable conduit 5| to a chute 62, at the lower endof which a bag or other suitable container for the coins at @Smay besecured.

Should a coin be positioned between a partition member 2% and itsoppositely disposed restricting finger 4!] of suflicient diameter to beheld within the discharge passage by this finger, it is moved bytherotation of the turntable above a guide finger and above a secondguide member 66. Theguiole finger 85 is pivotally mounted for smallextent of rocking motion limited by the stop 650 on one side and theends of the members Zil above, this upward rocking permitting the coinsescaping beneath it to pass by the counter wheel 59. As the finger 48moves upwardly, its cam roller 46 engages the periphery of the camelement 53 which is shaped to rock the finger 38 to a predeterminedextent sufiicient to open the end of the discharge passage to a sizesufficient for a coin of the next larger diameter to escape therefrom,so that should a coin of this next larger diameter happen to be in thedischarge passage, it is then allowed to pass out therefrom along theguide 66 and beneath the guide finger 66 similar to the finger 55 and ispropelledtherealong by the partition element 29 back of it past asecondstar wheel 70 which it rotates one step. It is then dropped through thedischarge opening I! from which a conduit 72 (see Figure 2) leads 'tothe hopper 13 similar to the hopper 62 and to which a-container M may betemporarily secured for the reception of coins of the next largerdiameter. If the coin in the discharge passage is too large to escapevtherefrom and engage the guide bar 66, it is carried around stillfurther until the cam roller at on the obstructing finger engages aportion 76 of the cam 55 of larger diameter, whereupon the obstructingfinger 4-0 is swung -to a-less obstructing position so as to allow acoin obstructing positions as they are moved up from their lowestpositions to permit the discharge of the next larger diameter toescape-and engage a guide :bar 80 leading to a thirdstar counter wheel8t and athird discharge opening 82. This discharge opening 82communicates through a discharge conduit 83 with a third hopper B4 towhich a receptacle 85 fcrreceiving the coins of the still largerdiameter may be temporarily-secured. Above the opening 82 a guide finger88 is positioned to guide the coins escaping from the dischargepassagesinto the discharge opening 82 but as gravity component here isineffective .to press it toward the discharge opening '82 it isyieldingly held in this position by a spring 85.

This counting mechanism is not per se claimed herein, but forms subjectmatterof a divisional application Serial No. 476,932, filed February 24,1943. I

As shown but three coin discharge openings are provided, the machinethus being restricted to the sorting of coins of three denominations,but more or less might be included'if desired, to take care of coins ofthe particular denominations which it is desired to sort. For example,the machine shown may be employed to separate and count dimes, nickels,and quarters.

7 As is usual with coin counting mechanisms employing star wheelsfspringpressed pawls as at 90 maybe employed to engage in succession with therecesses of the star wheels to prevent overrunning or other faultyactuation thereof by the coins, and the rotation of each of these starwheels may be imparted through suitable gears and shafts to countersindicated generally at 95, 92 and 93. As shown these counters may beprovided with a pair of indicator openings. the lower one being forindications of the number of coins passed and the upper ones being forindications of the dollar values of the coins so passed. Each of thedollar indication mechanisms may be connected together as by the shaftlib? and the sets of bevel gears Illl, 32, I03 and I04 with a shaft I05by which when desired these dollar value counters may be returned tozero indication in a manner well known to those skilled in the art. Asthis mechanism forms a portion of the indicator mechanism which "per seforms no part of the present invention, it has not been illustratedherein.

As shown in Figure 2 the shaitl85 may be connected for power rotationthrough a train of gearing Iil'l and chain and sprocket drive I88 with asmall motor IE3 which may be controlled through a suitable switchmechanism. This switch mechanism may be that shown in Figure l at I'IIplaced at any convenientpoint away from the machine and connected to themotor Hi9, by

which the operator can, whenever he desires, reset the dollar valuemechanism back to zero.

the motor 509 automatically stopping when this has been done by theinterruption of the contact Ill (Figure B) when permitted a cam I12carried by a shaft Il3 driven by the motor i539. As many of the dials asit is desired to have readily accessible to the operator may be madevisible througha cover member H5 (see Figure l), which. with the covermember 28 may be employed to complete closure of the forward face of themachine to the desired extent. The turntable is rotated by mechanismshown in Figure 2, the shaft 8 being provided with a worm wheel I25 withwhich meshesa worm i'2l on ashait I22. This shaft i222 maybe driven asby a motor I23 through a driving belt 524. l

In accordance with this 'nvention means are i provided for automaticallystopping the machine when a predetermined number of coins of. a desireddenominationhavebeen sorted out, counted and delivered. As shown this isdone for the nickel counter Ill which is connected as shown in Figure 7through bevel gears I25 with a counter I26 provided with a cam I2?(Figure 9) connected to be driven by one of the indicator disks of thecounter. When the cam drop I28 rides out from a spring pressed followeri231, contact is made at I30 closing a circuit through a brake solenoidI3I (Figures 2 and 5) tightening a band brake I32 around a drum I33 onthe worm shaft I22 and opening the circuit to the motor I23 at thecontacts I34 and I35.

A spring I36 normally through leads I43 and I44, switch button I42,

leads I41 and I48, electro-magnet I49, lead I50, switch contacts I34 andI35 and lead I5I to line I40. Energization of the electro-magnet I49closes the double pole switch having switch arms I52 and I53. Closing ofthe switch arm l52 closes a holding circuit for the electro-magnet I49from line I4I through lead I55, switch arm. 552, lead I56, normallyclosed stop switch E51, lines Il' and I l-8 through electro-magnet I 38,lead E50,

switch contacts E34 and I35 and lead l'5l to the line I40, so thatopening of the start switch but:- ton I42 is then inefiective tode-energize the electro-magnet Hi9. Opening of the stop switch I51 oropening of the switch contacts l34 and l35 would, however, be efiectiveto do this with the start switch button 42 open; Closinggof the switcharm I53 closes a circuit to line l 46, through lead I60, switch arm I53,lead lfil, motor I23, lead Hi2, switch arm I52 and lead from the lineIdl This energizes the motor i255 and starts the operation of themachine. As soon as the cam I21 is turned by the counting of the coinsto the desired number, it closes contact at I30 which connects lead I5I'from the. line I40, through lead F33, switch contact l35, lead I64,electro-magnet I3I to lead I43 and line l ll. This applies the brake I32to the pulley l3? and opens contacts ISQ and I35, which, as beforenoted, opens the holding circuit for the electro-magnet I49, allowingthe switch arms I52 and I53 to'open and tie-energize the motor I23 sothat the machine stops. Re-setting of the counter 126 thereafter opensthe contact at I30 and'permits start ofanew cycleu v l. A machine of theclass described comprising a turntable provided with coin-receivingdepressions having open outer ends in circular series and of suflicientsize to receive the largest coins to be sorted, wall members carried bysaid turntable and defining sides of passages leading from the openouter ends of said depressions and beyond the outer edge of said table,means for rotating said table, means separating said depressions fromsaid passages for a portion of the circumference of the turntable, andextending inwardly of said depressions and preventing coins fromentering thereinto at'another angular portion of said turntable wherecoins are free to moveifrom said depressions into said: passages, saidpassages each having an element adjustable to deterrninefthe size of thedischarge from its respective passage and means forprogressivelyenlarging the effective discharge apertures from saidpassages by adjustment of said elements in accordance with thedimensions of coins of selected denominations where discharge, ofsaid'coins is desired.

2. A machine of the class described comprising a coin-receiving hopper,an inclined rotary disk forming one of the walls of said hopper, meansfor rotating said disk in one direction, said disk having a plurality ofcoin-receiving pockets having open outer ends arranged in circularseries concentric to the axis of rotation of said disk, a stationarypartition closing the open ends of said pockets where said pockets aremoving upwardly, means positioned inwardly of said pockets and closingaccess of coins thereto from said hopper where said pockets aredescending, a plurality of pairs of spaced partitions defining coindischarge passages for said pockets carried by said disk and spaced fromsaid pockets sufficiently for said partition to extend therebetween,movable baffles co- 'a coin-receiving hopper, an inclined rotary diskforming one of the walls of said hopper, means for rotating said disk inone direction, said disk having a plurality of coin-receiving pocketsarranged in circular series concentric to the axis of rotation of saiddisk and having open outer ends, a stationary partition closing the openends of said pockets where said pockets are moving upwardly, meanspositioned inwardly of said pockets and closing access of coins theretofrom said hopper where said pockets are descending, a plurality of pairsof spaced partitions defining coin discharge passages for said pocketscarried by said disk and spaced from said pocket sufficiently for saidpartition to extend therebetween, movable baffles cooperating with oneof each of said pairs of passage partitions to restrict each dischargepassage, and means for retracting said baflles to progressivelyincreased extents each corresponding to the diameter of a coin of onedenomination, during a portion of the angular rotation of said disk tothereby permit discharge of coins of the corresponding denomination at apredetermined'angular position of each discharge p ge.

-4. A machine'of the class described comprising a coin-receiving hopper,an inclined rotary disk forming one of the Walls of said hopper, meansfor rotating said diskin one direction, said disk having a plurality ofcoin-receiving pockets arranged in "circular series-concentric to theaxis of rotation ofsaid disk and having open ends, astationary'partition closing the open ends of said pockets where-saidpockets are moving upwardly, meanspositioned inwardly of said pocketsand closing access of coins thereto from said hopper where said pocketsare descending, a plurality'o f pairs of spaced partitions defining coindischarge passagesfor said pockets carried by said disk and spaced fromsaid pockets sufliciently for said partition to extend therebetween,movable bailles cooperating withone ofeach of said pairs of pas- .sagepartitions to restrict each discharge passage,

means for controlling the position of each baflle to progressivelyincrease the size of discharge passage where said pockets are movingupwardly in'accordance with selected c'oin diameters to per- 'mitthedischarge ffrom'said passages of the corresponding diameter coins, astationary wall member in substantially the same plane as said disk andhaving an aperture therethrough within J which said disk is positioned,and elements carried by said stationary wall member defining channelspositioned to receive coins discharged from said passages past saidbaflles.

I 5. A machine of the class described comprising a coin-receivinghopper, an inclined rotary disk forming one of the walls of said hopper,means for rotating said disk in one direction, said disk having a,plurality of coin-receiving pockets arranged in circular seriesconcentric to the axis of rotation of said disk and having open ends, astationary partition closing the open ends of said pockets where saidpockets are moving upwardly, means positioned inwardly of said pocketsand closing access of coins thereto from said hopper where said pocketsare descending, a plurality of pairs of spaced partitions defining coindischarge passages for said pockets carried by saiddisk and spaced fromsaid pockets sufiiciently for said partition to extend therebetween,movable bailles cooperating with one of each of said pairs of 'passagepartitions to restrict each discharge passage, means for moving eachbafile to progressively less restrict said discharge passages where saidpockets are moving upwardly in accordance with selected coin diametersto permit the discharge from said passages of the corresponding diametercoins, a stationary wall member in substantially the same plane as saiddisk and having an aperture therethrough within which said disk ispositioned, and elements carried by said stationary Wall member definingchannels positioned to receive coins discharged from said passages pastsaid baiiles. V

6. A machine of the class described comprising a coin-receiving hopper,aninclinedrotary disk forming one of the walls of said hopper, means forrotating said disk in one direction, saiddisk having a plurality ofcoin-receiving pockets arranged in circular series concentric to theaxis of rotation of said disk and having open ends, a stationarypartition closing the open ends of said pockets where said pockets aremoving upwardly, means positioned inwardly of said pockets and closingaccess of coins thereto from said hopper where said pockets aredescending, a plurality of pairs of spaced partitions defining coindischarge passages for said pockets carried by said disk and spaced fromsaid pockets sufiiciently for said partition to extend therebetween,movable bafiles cooperating with one of each of said pairs of passagepartitions to restrict-each discharge passage, means ,for controllingthe position of each baffle to progressively increase the sizes of saiddischarge passages Where said pockets are moving upwardly in accordancewith selected coin diameters to permit the discharge from said passagesof the corresponding diameter coins, a stationary wall member insubstantially the same plane as said disk and having an aperturetherethrough within which said disk is positioned, and

elements carried by said stationary wall member defining channelspositioned to receive coins discharged from said passages past saidbaflles.

JOSEPH N. FRANCIS.

